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Benefits will also occur from implementation of my decision. An additional l7 million tons of coal will be made available to supply energy needs of the country, and will provide economic benefit to the surrounding communities. Assuming that the coal lease is purchased and mined by MCC, the 17 million tons of coal will likely he mined over [he course of 7 to 8 years, based on the reasonably foreseeable mine plan (EIS, Section 1.8). Factors Other Than Environmental Effects Considered In Making The Decision The purpose and need of this project is to lease additional Federal coal lands to allow economic recovery of federal coal reserves. My decision supports the Purpose and Need for this project. My decision fulfills the Federal Government's policy to foster and encourage mineral development (Mining and Mineral Policy Act of 1970), the Federal Land and Management Policy Act (FLPMA), and complies with the GMUG Forest Plan direction. Coal in the North Fork Valley is desirable because it is considered "compliance coal" under the Clean Air Act emissions standazds. The coal from the area is low sulfur, low ash, and has high burning capabilities (EIS, page 3-8). Identification of the Environmental Documents Considered in Making the Decision This decision was made after cazefully considering the contents of the EIS, public comments, agency response to comments, and the supporting project record. The GMUG Forest Plan was reviewed and this decision determined to be consistent with it (EIS, Section 1.4). The numerous other environmental documents (EIS, Section 1.5 and Chapter 6) prepazed for activities in the area were also consulted. How Considerations Were Weighed And Balanced In Arriving At The Decision The resource impact analyses presented in the EIS (Chapter 3, and summarized in Table 2-2) show that potential impacts to surface resources would be minor, and can be mitigated. Granting consent to lease these lands adds about 1,517 acres of NFS lands to the coal lease base in the North Fork Valley. There are currently about 11, 500 acres of NFS lands under lease for coal in the azea. This additional acreage represents about 13% of the currently leased acreage. I have also considered Executive Order 13212, which directs federal agencies to take steps to increase [he energy supply to our nation, and the Energy Policy Act of 2005. Relationship to Public Involvement Public comments were sought throughout this project (refer to Section I.D of this document for a summary of public involvement, and Section 2.2 and Chapter 8 of the EIS). I recognize that some parties are concerned over development in inventoried roadless areas. The area in which [his lease is proposed is not an area that was identified for wilderness designation, nor was it identified as a further planning area. The GMUG Forest Plan allows development in this azea. Subsequent evaluations have shown that the roadless chazacter in the area has been 4